The Chillicothe Hornets boys soccer team was on the road at Cameron in the season opener on Tuesday night. Chillicothe got the scoring started 15 minutes into the game when freshman Mason Walter attempted a free kick that was saved off the crossbar but bounced back in front of the goal. Coy Jones was alert to the ball and headed it in to give the Hornets the lead. Less than 15 minutes later Jones was dribbling down the left side of the field and was fouled inside the box resulting in a penalty kick. The initial shot from Jones was saved by the Dragons goalkeeper but once again Jones stayed with the play, following the shot and tapped in the loose ball to double Chillicothe’s advantage.
In the 2nd half, Cameron came out fired up and earned a penalty kick of their own after a Chillicothe handball just one minute past the break. Pablo Rosado converted the spot kick, then just seven minutes later Cameron tied the game up when an own goal was conceded by Chillicothe produced by a Cameron corner kick.
The Hornets under Coach Shannon Grable showed great resolve by answering and re-taking the lead six minutes later. With 26 minutes remaining, Chillicothe capitalized on a corner kick from Isaac Bailey, the ball was sent into the mix in front of goal and Ryan Schuler got on the end of it, putting the ball in the back of the net. Chillicothe’s defense held strong and with two minutes to go the Hornets added an insurance goal off an assist from Josh Ojeaga and the third Coy Jones goal of the night, giving the junior a hat-trick.
Chillicothe earned the 4-2 victory in the season opener. The Hornets will be back in action at Marshall on Thursday, Chillicothe’s first home game is next Tuesday hosting Lafayette.